Did you know that dental disease is the most common disease in dogs and cats? Over 60% of all pets over the age of 3 have some form of dental disease; however most pets will show few signs. It's up to us as pet owners and caretakers to uncover this hidden and often painful condition.

Just like we have to visit the dentist to maintain our healthy teeth, so do our pets. However the reason for the dental disease is different. In humans the most common problem is tooth decay that results in painful cavities. In dogs and cats the most common problem is periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is the inflammation and infection of the tissue surrounding the teeth. 

What is that gross build-up on your pet's teeth? Calculus! Imagine, if you never brushed your teeth, what they would look like. Dogs and cats have tartar build-up, just like we do, but when it doesn't get cleaned away it becomes mineralized as calculus. Once calculus is formed it can only be removed by a professional scaling and polishing. As calculus builds up it presses on the gums causing inflammation and infection, called gingivitis. As oral infection increases bacteria can be absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to other organs. Kidney and liver problems are often caused by “bad teeth.”

A professional cleaning of your pet's teeth is similar to the way your teeth are cleaned at the dentist. Because we can't ask a dog or a cat to “open wide” and to stay that way, anesthesia is required. Once your pet is asleep, the teeth are scaled both above and below the gum line and then polished to help prevent plaque build-up. After your pet's teeth are cleaned, tartar begins forming in as little as six hours, so at-home care is a must. The gold-standard in at-home care is teeth-brushing, but there are other products available to help. 

Check back here next time for tips on how to brush your pet's teeth and the best dental products products available.